Additional $300 million in funding secured for Dulles rail Phase 2

The Virginia Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved an amended Senate budget, which will provide $300 million dollars in additional state funds to Phase 2 of the Metrorail to Dulles Project in northern Virginia.

The amount is in addition to $150 million the state has previously committed, bringing the total state contribution for the project to $450 million. The funds will help prevent tolls on the Dulles Toll Road from skyrocketing out of control and put Virginia in a better position to obtain some federal funding.

"This is great news for Northern Virginia," Senator Janet Howell (D- Fairfax & Arlington) stated. "We believed all along the state needed to step up and make a major contribution toward the completion of Phase 2. The original Senate budget, which we opposed, was completely silent on funding for this project, which is of local, state and national significance."

"The previous budget proposal that we rejected shortchanged Northern Virginia," Senator Mark Herring (D- Loudoun & Fairfax) said, "Through our persistent efforts, we were able to secure these critical funds in the Senate budget, which will result in real relief for the users of the Dulles Toll Road and boost momentum for the construction of Phase 2 of the planned Metrorail extension."